Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-10
FORT SMITH.
The Wheels Of Uncle Sans Justice
Mill Clogged for Want Of Funds.
A Complete Suspension.
Review of tho Murder Cases Awaiting In
sestigation in Americas Largest
Criminal Court.
Special to the Gazette.


Special to the Gazette.
| FORT SMITH, ARK, Feb. 9.-The Feb
ruary term of the United States Court for
the Western District of Arkansas COM
menced yesterday, but owing to lack of
funds TO defray the expenses of the term,
the petit jury was not called, those sum
mCned having been notified previously
that their preseace would not be required
until the first of april, all the criminal
cases having been continued
over until that time. This will
throw the bulk of the business into the
May term, when the criminal docket Will
be unusually large. The grand jury was
J impanneled and is now in session, with
quite a large number of cases to investi-
gate. The court Will be in session on
civil cases right along, but no criminal
cases will be disposed of except where
defendant desires to enter plea OF guilty.
/ There are in jail awaiting trial for
Murder. ..--- .-. .......-.. ..-.-...........ls
Assault with intent TO kill.-...-- ---....... D
Threatening TO kill. e. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Larceny. ..--....- .......- ---...--.- ~
| Introducing and selling whisky in the indian
violating internal revenue aw..,...'......... !
Total .............. Is
Besides these there are I2I criminal
cases, the defendants to which are on
bond awaiting trial, and by the lst of
April over 200 cases will be docketed.
Those in Jail awaiting trial for murder
are a. follows:
nbor NIT
numbering his step-child, two-and-a-half
years of age, in the Choctaw nation.
Committed to Jail in -- last.
Claims child died from natural causes.
JEFF Hilderbsnd, half Cherokee,
charged with killing John Ridgeway, col
ored, about five years ago in the CherG-
with intent to kill. JEFF has been here in
Jail since the 14th of December, 1885, and
says he is getting used to it. Claims to
know nothing about crimes charged.
John Tecumseb, alias Bruner, Seminole
negro, killed George Mack in the Chicka-
saw nation March Is, 1885; jailed on
January &c. Mack was an outlaw and
Tecumsen claims the killing was done
in self-defense.
Della Humby, Indian negro, has two
charges of murder and one assault case
pending against him, viz, for killing a
woman who went back on him while he
was serving four years. sentence at
Detroit; for participating with the Lee
bows in the Delaware Bend massaecr, and
tor trying to kill Robin Grayson on
| Christmas eve. Don't know anything
about the murder charges.
George Mass and Sandy Smith, ne
] T,Gr -,
Choctaw nation last December. Jailed
December 10, last. Don't deny the
charge.
John w. Harris, white, killed Rufus
FivekilIer on December II, last, in the
Cherokee nation. Surrendered q few
days after the killing; claims self-de-
Tense.
Cornelius Island, charged with MUIR
! dering his wife, Silva Island, near Mus
kogee, in August, 1856. jailed soon after
death of the woman. Claims Mrs. Island
died a natural death.
Silss Hampton, young Choctaw, muir
dered and robbed an old man named
| LLOYD in the Chickasaw nation in Decem-
Der. Says he don't know anything about
the case, but will likely find out
something before he gets through with it.
Jailed January &c.
Jack Crow, Indian negro, murdered, or
helped to murder, Charley Wilson in the
Choctaw nation about two years ago
Been on the dodge since, until about
Christmas, when he was captured. Won't
talk about his case or answer any ques-
tiORs for newspaper men.
James ChuleWa, Cherokee, murdered
peddler some years ago. and has been
how lI,, n
consumption, and will hardly live to be
tried unless Congress Is more prompt in
furnishing money to run the court.
Emanuel Patterson, murdered Deputy
United States Marshal Willard Ayers,
August, 1881, secuted nearly six years,
and surrendered to Deputy Marshal Heck
Thomas on the 18th of January last.
Don't deny the killing.
Lewis Burrows, white, killed his father
in law, Rev w. II. Morgan, near Scully-
vile, Choctaw nation, September ., 1856,
splitting his heart open with an sX. Don't
deny the killing, but claims seli-defense.
James Snow, white, charged with muir
dering Lewis Gardner, negro, about
seven years ego in the Cherokee nation;
jailed January y. Says he Is the wrong
man.
DuIItL ~ ISuhOOu, WulteJ CldISeu VIII
numbering his brother-in-law, A. T.
Brown, in the Chickasaw nation, Deem
Der IL, last. Says ne didn't do it.
Dick Switzerland, white, killed Jake
Burris in the Cherokee nation, October,
1851. Arrested in November, 1885, and
released by United States Commissioner
Atterwerd indicted by the grand jury and
jailed a second time, November IL, 1886.
His plea will be self-defense
Alexander Williams, colored, about
fifty years of age, is charged with COM
uniting rape on the person of Ella Whit
field, colored girl about twelve years
of age.
One Seabron, Creek Indian, charged
with numbering posse and two guards
near Eufaula, January Il last. Denies |
the charge.
William Banister, white, murder of
Frank Walker in Choctaw nation 2Sth !
last month. Claims self-defense.
The evidence in majority of these |
murder cases is very strong and another !